| Description: |
Stemless or short-stemmed plants with a rosette of leaves on short stalks. framing masses of star-shaped flowers on short stalks at the center. |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Growing Ease: |
Requires a little extra care |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the South/East/West |
| Soil Type: |
Use a GOOD rich potting soil (a soil that retains water yet drains well), such as an African violet mix. If you want to mix your own take:
1 part of sphagnum moss, 1 part of perlite and make sure the mix is lime free. Another recipe to try is 1 part of lime free soil to 1 part of peat.
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Keep the soil evenly moist at all times and use warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed monthly spring through fall with a nitrate free, water soluble fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to mealy bugs, mites and aphids. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Division and leaf cuttings
in the spring.
Early summer, Early fall, Early spring, Early winter, Late summer, Late fall, Late spring, Late winter, Mid summer, Mid fall, Mid spring, Mid winter
After dividing plant, pot in the plants regular potting mix. It is best to propagate any type of cuttings in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent the moisture from escaping. Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light. Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while.
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| Gardening Tips & Care: |
Mist with warm water only when not in flower. Cut off the flowers after they die and make sure the plant has good ventilation. Do not over-water. This plant grows very well under fluorescent lights.
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| Flower Color: |
Blue, Lavender, Pink, Purple, Salmon, White |